International Conference Call for Papers
Outer Space, New Tech and Future Space Settlement: Human Rights for the Final Frontier

Virtual Conference at the University of Waikato

together with AI SpaceLaw Society 

5 December 2025

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Deadline for Abstract Submissions: 30 September 2025

 

The School of Law, Politics and Philosophy at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, in partnership with the AI Space Law Society, invites submissions for a virtual conference to be held on 5 December 2025. The purpose of this conference is to create an all-encompassing discussion on the topic of outer space and human rights. Furthermore, it aims to open new dialogue among junior and senior researchers.

 

While states and corporations, such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and the Sierra Nevada Corporation, have declared ambitious plans for humans to inhabit celestial bodies by the end of the 21st century the future human settlement of outer space remains speculative. Nevertheless, the possibility of multiplanetary human settlement raises important legal questions not only about the governance of a celestial body but also the extraterrestrial application of the international human rights framework, and more precisely, the obligation of states and space corporations to observe and protect such rights. While the Outer Space Treaty was drafted and negotiated around the same time as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights the development of both outer space law and human rights have remained separate and distinct. There is no explicit reference to ‘individual human rights’ in the five outer space treaties and of course, any reference to human rights in the five declarations and principles relating to outer space are not legally binding. Although Article III of the Outer Space Treaty provides some much-needed guidance by affirming that space activity must be conducted “in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations in the interest of maintaining international peace and security” several scholars posit that it is unfortunate that only States continue to bear this responsibility and not private corporations.

 

Recently, there has been a significant impetus by states to enact domestic legislation to give effect to their own duties and obligations under international space law. However, a rudimentary analysis of these domestic laws highlights that the scope and application of human rights in outer space continues to be overlooked and thus, scholars’ shared concern about how human rights will be safeguarded in outer space has been amplified. Private actors, particularly corporations, have swiftly emerged as the dominant actors in the space race. However, it has been speculated that they may be reluctant to be subject to international law and human rights standards and may wish to remain free to pursue their own business interests, which for the most part, do not align with the interests of “humankind.”

 

In this context, this Virtual Conference invites scholars, including doctoral students, to explore how outer space law responds - or fails to respond- to this dilemma. Contributions may address legal questions de lege lata, through the interpretation of existing treaty and customary norms, and/or de lege ferenda, by proposing new rules to respond to the evolving challenges posed by outer space use and exploration for the international human rights framework. The conference welcomes and encourages contributions from a variety of methods and methodologies. Contributions that build upon (but not limited to) the theoretical and empirical aspects of the following subjects are encouraged:

 

• The Relationship between Outer Space Law and Human Rights.

• The Scope and Limits of Human Rights Protection for Future Outer Space Use and Exploration.

• Balancing the Protection of Critical Outer Space Infrastructure and Technology with Safeguarding Fundamental Human Rights.

• The Role of Governmental, Non-Governmental and International Organizations in Developing and Protecting Human Rights in Outer Space.

• Astronauts, Space Tourists and the Application of Human Rights Law.

• Human Enhancement Technologies and the Application of Bioethics and Human Rights Law Beyond Earth.

• Legal and Policy Challenges of New Technology including Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Human Rights Protection.

• Military Uses of Outer Space and Human Rights.

• Outer Space Security and Human Rights.

• Extraterrestrial Human Settlements: Rethinking Legal and Regulatory Protections in Outer Space.

• Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and Outer Space.

• Access to Dark Skies, Orbital Congestion and Human Rights.

• Philosophical Perspectives of Humans in Space.

• The Enforcement of Fundamental Human Rights in Outer Space.

• Corporate and State Perspectives on Human Rights Due Diligence in the Use and Exploration of Outer Space.

 

Submission

Prospective contributors are invited to submit their abstract (400 words maximum) with a provisional title by email to Dr Anna Marie Brennan (abrennan.waikato.ac.nz) with the subject line “Abstract: Outer Space and Human Rights” by Tuesday, 30 September 2025. Abstracts must be accompanied by a brief bio of no more than 150 words. Please note that the abstract must indicate (i) the title of the paper, (ii) the full name of the author(s) and the name of the corresponding author in case of more than one author, (iii) full contact details of the author(s) including valid email address, and (iv) institutional affiliation. Each submission will be evaluated on the basis of quality, innovativeness and relevance to the theme of the Virtual Conference. The working language of the Virtual Conference will be English.

 

The selected papers will be announced by Friday, 17 October 2025. Participants are encouraged to submit a full draft (optional) of their paper (6,000 words max) by Friday, 14 November 2025 with the objective of potentially publishing a collection of (selected) articles from the event in an edited book with a leading publishing house or a special issue journal. Draft papers will be circulated among the participants in advance.

 

Attendance and Participation in the conference is free of charge, but registration is required. Registration is available at the following link:

 

Deadlines

30 September 2025:   Deadline for abstract submission

17 October 2025:        Notification to authors/speakers

14 November 2025:    Deadline for full paper submission (This is optional)

5 December 2025:      Virtual Conference

 

This conference is being organised by Dr Anna Marie Brennan with support from the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation through a Women Leaders in Law Fellowship. The Borrin Foundation “supports legal research, education and scholarship that contributes to a just, inclusive and flourishing Aotearoa New Zealand." For further information on the Conference, please email: abrennan@waikato.ac.nz

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